About Us

The objectives of the Southgate Community Players are to study and promote community theater, to encourage talent and to afford the membership opportunities to work with and in dramatic productions. Also to help foster cultural interests in this organization and the community and to always maintain high standards of entertainment.

In 1957, two members of the St Pius parish church in Southgate set out to present a minstrel show; Cotton Pickin’ Paradise. After that initial show, plans were made to continue this new-found tradition. They elected officers and instituted a constitution and from those humble beginnings, the St Pius Players were born. Initially original scripts were written by members and in the opening years twice they presented For This I was Born; the Passion of the Lord. It was the first show of its kind in the downriver area and just the start of continued acclaim of what would later become known as the Southgate Community Players.

1963

The fall of 1963 brought with it a new constitution forming the St Pius Southgate Community Players and our first large cast royalty musical, Oklahoma. The following year we joined the Community Theatre Association of Michigan and expanded the season to include two shows. In the years that followed, we expanded to a three show season, opening and closing with a musical and a straight show in the middle. We also established season tickets which now boasts over 800 per season. In 1968, the Young Peoples’ Theatre was started as a means to teach the youth all about theatre and give them an opportunity to perform as well.

1971

In 1971, we broke off our ties with St Pius so that we could continue to grow and we officially became the Southgate Community Players. As the years continued, what was once an “idea” had now become the premier community theatre in the area often being the first group to take a difficult or elaborate production. Some of those “firsts” included A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Something’s Afoot & City of Angels to name a few.

1981

In 1981, the players purchased their first building when they moved into a small building that was big enough for board meetings and sometimes rehearsals. It also had a garage for storage. It took 15 years, until 1996, before we moved to our current residence which is over four times the size of our first space. We held a contest to name it, and it officially The Corner Playhouse. It is large enough to rehearse in and as a means of supporting it, we also present shows in the summer there.

2000

Again we have presented some “firsts” there as well including A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody, The Taffettas, Twilight of the Golds and the world premiere of Brunch;The Musical. We are continually expanding and growing, working hard not to sacrifice quality entertainment. Currently we present our main stage season of two musicals and a straight show, two summer shows at the Corner Playhouse, our youth productions, interactive shows and we are also the organizers of the official Oscar party in the Detroit area, Oscar Night America.

Awards

2017-2018 AWARD WINNERS

BEST DIRECTOR Corey Shorter – The Addams Family
BEST PRODUCER Chris Rollet and Erin Schmidt – Into the Woods
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER Corey Shorter – The Addams Family
BEST CHORAL Rebecca Roberts – Into the Woods
BEST LIGHTING Chris Rollet – The Addams Family
BEST COSTUMES Karen Conner – Into the Woods
BEST SET Chris Rollet and Alan Demorow – Addams Family
BEST CAMEO Rob Douglas – Into the Woods
BEST SPOTLIGHT Rob Eagal – Into the Woods
BEST FEATURE PLAYER Logan Laflin and Josh Gray (tie) Into the Woods
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Taylor Charbonneau – Into the Woods
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Ethan Jacoby – The Addams Family
BEST ACTRESS Tamara Laflin – Into the Woods (tie) Sydney Bramlett – The Addams Family
BEST ACTOR Dalton Pittman – The Addams Family
BEST SHOW THE ADDAMS FAMILY
MEMBER OF THE YEAR Alan Demorow
MR CONGENIALITY Logan Laflin
MS CONGENIALITY Linda Cardinale
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE NUNSENSE Tamara Laflin
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ADDAMS FAMILY Melanie Berger
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE INTO THE WOODS Josh Gray
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Isaac Clark
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ANNIE JR. Isabella Selburg
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE SEUSSICAL JR. Sergio Krzesowiak
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AVENUE Q Ashley Lyle

2014-2015 Awards Winners

Best Show—Miss Saigon
Best Director—Chris Rollet for Miss Saigon
Best Actor—Brandon Dominguez for Miss Saigon
Best Actress—Kelly Lomas, Lara Keithley for Steel Magnolias & Melanie Berger for Miss Saigon
Best Producer—Joyce Fisher for Miss Saigon
Best Supporting Actor—Zachary Morgan for Miss Saigon
Best Supporting Actress—Mellissa L’Heureux for Miss Saigon
Best Ensemble for Miss Saigon—Patrick Kowalski
Member of the Year—Tina Brow
Best Choral—Rich Alder for Miss Saigon
Best Choreography—Tina Brow for Miss Saigon
Best Lead for Honk!—Bradley Hardecki
Best Ensemble for Honk!—Rahne Olson
Best Costumes—Karen Connor for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Sound—Jema McCardell & Joel Marchand for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Performer for Cemetery Club—Jema McCardell
Best Spotlight—Tamara Marla for Miss Saigon
Best Set—Chris Rollet for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Lights—Chris Rollet for Miss Saigon
Best Performer for Curiosity Cat—Sydney Robinson
Best Props & Set Dressing—Chris Rollet for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Featured Actor—John Meiers for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Featured Actress—Tamara Marla for 1940’s Radio Hour
Best Lead for Peter Pan Jr.—Bradley Hardecki
Best Ensemble for Peter Pan Jr.—Paris Fisher

The objectives of the Southgate Community Players are to study and promote community theater, to encourage talent and to afford the membership opportunities to work with and in dramatic productions. Also to help foster cultural interests in this organization and the community and to always maintain high standards of entertainment.